WhenToBird

2 oriole species in New Jersey

When Do Orioles Arrive in New Jersey?

Adult male Baltimore Oriole
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles are the orioles you are most likely to see in New Jersey. Baltimore Orioles reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (30% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

Orioles here are the birds (Baltimore, Orchard, Bullock's and relatives), not the baseball team.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 30% of New Jersey checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novrare
  12. Decrare

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Orioles in New Jersey, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Baltimore OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Sep 8-1430%
Orchard OrioleApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Jul 8-149.6%
0%10%20%30%40%Baltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Orchard Oriole
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in New Jersey that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in New Jersey

Best counties for Baltimore Oriole

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Passaic CountyBest the second week of May · 1413 checklists that week, 24,933 in all64%
  2. Warren CountyBest the second week of May · 813 checklists that week, 20,077 in all51%
  3. Sussex CountyBest late May · 1355 checklists that week, 30,305 in all50%
  4. Hunterdon CountyBest mid May · 1403 checklists that week, 57,610 in all49%
  5. Somerset CountyBest the second week of May · 1936 checklists that week, 58,057 in all49%
  6. Bergen CountyBest mid May · 2152 checklists that week, 73,457 in all48%

Common questions

When do orioles arrive in New Jersey?
Baltimore Orioles reach New Jersey in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (30% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do orioles leave New Jersey?
Most Baltimore Orioles have left New Jersey by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see orioles in New Jersey?
The Baltimore Oriole is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 30% of New Jersey checklists.
Which orioles are in New Jersey?
Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole are reported regularly; the Baltimore Oriole is the most common.